MCP drags MBC, Macra to court for biased broadcasting, seeks injunction against hate programs
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has dragged the public broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) for biased broadcasting as well as seeking an injunction against specific programs it airs with hate messages.
A summon obtained on Thursday at High Court of Malawi, Lilongwe district registry under civil cause 254, MCP is claiming various reliefs among them a declaration that the defendants to provide them inequitable treatment, that MBC conduct is unconscionable and amounts to breach of their fiduciary duties to the general public.
And that Macra as the first defendant is in breach of its constitutional mandate imposed under section 193(3) of the country’s constitution.
The summon, seen by Nyasa Times further demand a mandatory order compelling the defendant to provide equitable treatment to MCP and its political leaders in the same manner as the same is provided to the governing political party of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) or any other party groups whose objects are, tacitly and or expressly political in nature but favoring the ruling party.
The party, through Mvalo and Company legal practitioners wants a prohibitory order restraining MBC from producing, broadcasting and or publishing never again/sapita kawiri, Manifesto. Chindunji, Kauniuni and Malawi pa Chitukuko 2014-2019 programs.
The prohibitory order further targets other program or music whose object are to promote or undermine the interest of any political party or member of that political party.
MCP also seeks “a quashing order invalidating any decisions in respect of production, broadcasting or publication of programs, commentary or news items already made by the defendants whose object are to promote or undermine the interest of any political party or member of that political party.”
It further seeks an order for the defendants to issue a public apology and admission of wrong doing to Malawians generally and MCP in particular for the prejudice caused as a result of the breach of their constitutional and statutory duties and that the said apology and admission be carried by way of public notices in at least two newspapers with the widest national circulation and by way of news items, commentary and public advertisement bon all its platforms.
The defendants have been given 28 days to respond.
MBC and Macra management are yet to comment on the summons .
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Muziona chaka chino
Why can’t MBC operate just like SABC?
MBC stinks. We pay taxes for garbage.
MBC and MACRA are two separate organisations whose leader is the worst nincompoop( Man Pido Mutharika). These two organisations are just blind followers who obey orders even though it means nothing.. Ndimakape pamodzi ndi Pido wawoyo…
MCP shut up! !! You said people don’t listen MBC. Tsono mukufuna aziika n khani za MCP And other political entities who will listen to them? Sapita kawiri , Chindunji And Malawi pa chitukuko are educative programs . Ana amene abadwa after 1993 learn how bloody MCP was with its notorious youth leagues boys. MCP should not open to MCP at all it doesn’t work like that . MCP mulira simunati. . Come 21 May you will go to Court to complain kuti akuberani chisankho a DPP But you will not succeed .
Chitsiru nawe, zopusa. MBC to hell. Usanditukwani pa mako
28 days is too many,7days is much better though still too many as well considering that less 60days is remaining to polling day. Also and seriously comtempt of court and imprisonment should be administered in the event of none compliance.
Kodi filipi bizinesi, sumbuleta ndi ena otelo adzapita kuti MCP ikatenga boma? My suggestion is for these goons to be retained so that they produce programs on Chasowa, Njauju, blue nights, chsla m’ mwaba, K145m from Karim etc.
Why is MCP concrned? Chakwera recently said people don’t listen to MBC, and that MCP will change that if it gets elected. Why are they worried if people don’t listen to MBC.? In addition, MCP has been saying the people who committed crimes during MCP rule have gone to other parties. If people remaining in MCP are clean, why the bother?
You must be so daft
Iwedi ndi finye. Maganizidwe ako ndi afinyedi. Can’t you see kuti although anthuwo anachoka MBC still attacks the party not the people involved?
The program aim is promotion of hate between parties and party followers and against uniting Malawians. Therefore the move is good for national building not necessarily related to campaign. Secondly its timely done to inform those behind the concerned programmes that they are not welcome in MCP administration because what they love is against the values of MCP! Kudzawachotsa after May 21 mungadzaone ngati nkhanza, m’malo mwake mukuyenela kudziwitsidwa kuti MCP doesn’t tolerate promoting hate amongst Malawians and will never do it once in government!! Take my words, mudzapita pamodzi ndi diphiphi yanuyo anthu odziwa kuyambanitsanuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!
It is because MBC uses my tax and I am not a member of DPP. If they want to promote DPP let us come to an arrangement where only taxes from DPP members should be allocated to MBC.
@bob finye
Get lost
Iwenso get lost. The world has never seen a stupid person like you.
ACHITSILU INU…
Iwenso chitsiro, galu and dog.
@finye.
Proved himself beyond reasonable doubt he is indeed finye. His thinking is that of a finye.
Bravo! Take MEC to task too its responsible as well to ensure fairness in elections they should turn a blind eye like they dont on political violence.
DPP, MACRA & MBC ndi achule enieni with APM as the chief frog & the headless chicken. They say something & do the contrary! MBC anamanga ndi Kamuzu wa MCP so let all parties be given chances. DPP should not monopolize & politicize the institution as if it is their party entity. MEC should be held accountable for this behaviour by DPP, MACRA & MBC otherwise MEC is biased & toothless. This is nothing but rigging!
Suppose Chakwera takes the mantle on 21 May,where will the Sumbuletas go,look before you before you speak
What is the point of bringing MBC to court? They are not going to change.Concentrate on your campaign and when you winChakwera or Saulos, then you will be able to change things.Good luck both of you!
Not only change MBC administratively but outright firing of all those involved in the production and airing of programs with hate messages. Why keep Phillip Business, Chimbizga Msimuko and co.? Bring in a new crop of management and transfer the rest to various public set ups.
Kuopa uku kkk
28 days its too much they could have given them 7 days
I don’t even know the programmes mentioned here coz it’s been long I listened to these stations because of the same reasons.
This is the MCP I know…
Always in denial, freedom of expression is a strange animal to them.
Always gagging news outlets.. This week alone they have tried to gag the Nation, Nyasatimes etc for running that Chakwera guard story…
Masiku kale ankangopha ma journo ngati nyerere.
It seems this Vampire spirit is still alive and well.
Kutha ma plan EMUSIPI. The things on MBC are injustices, crime, murder etc that were committed under your watch. Including yesterday, your fake accent and empty-headed former reverend called the DPP a corrupt government even when he knows it’s not all but a few individuals. He has spent the past 5 years uttering hate words against present day leaders. As the fake accent leader of the murderous party of death and darkness, he inherited from Zenasi Ungapake Tembo hands dripping with blood. Stop double standards.
Big up mcp phillip business anakwana kwambiri
I’m no MCP. But well done MCP. DPP have been using MBC with impunity. It is long overdue that someone had been taken to the cleaners. It’s taxpayers money. MBC should be for all.
21 May apakile amenewo